A favourite winter activity for children and adults alike is slides. However, no matter how nice winter is, sometimes you don't want to slide down into a snowdrift but into a warm pool. In this case, a good option would be a trip to an indoor water park — warm and cosy, and children will be happy to change the layered winter clothes into a swimming costume.
About water parks, it seems, all known ahead: a lot of slides of different heights, steepness and complexity. However, in our article, we have tried to describe those indoor waterparks that can carry the title 'Europe's Best Waterparks' and can delight and amaze even the seasoned water amusem*nt enthusiast.
Contents
- AquaWorld Budapest (Hungary)
- Tropical Islands Resort (Krausnick, Germany)
- AquaPalace Praha (The Czech Republic)
- Serena Water Park (Espoo, Finland)
- Sandcastle Waterpark (Blackpool, England)
- Alpamare (Zurich, Switzerland)
- Park Wodny (Krakow, Poland)
- Duinrell (Wassenaar, Netherlands)
- Druskininkai Aquapark (Lithuania)
- Tatralandia Aquapark (Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia)
1. AquaWorld Budapest (Hungary)
Budapest's enormous water theme park takes you to... Cambodia with a replica of the Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat. The biggest of the slides is 17 metres high and takes your breath away.
For an extreme thrill, go down the "Mountain River" surrounded by sheer cliffs or let the "Tornado" take you on. If you prefer a quieter pastime, head for the fun family slides or the Jacuzzi pools. Special children's attractions, such as the Wave or the Jungle, are designed for 3-10-year-olds. At Sauna World, you can enjoy a Finnish or Russian sauna, an infrared sauna and a bio sauna.
2. Tropical Islands Resort (Krausnick, Germany)
It's a tropical island in the middle of the mainland, where summer reigns all year round. An enormous airship hangar, thanks to the bold idea of its creators, shelters a veritable rainforest, sandy beaches lapped by warm waves, waterfalls and plenty of water attractions inside.
Theme zones — Thailand, Borneo, Bali, Samoa — recreate the temperature and humidity of these exotic resorts. The water park boasts a 25-metre-high slide.
There is an unbelievable variety of activities for children: slides, pools, a bathing fountain, and water games, and you can build sand castles on the beach. There are no zeppelins, but a hot air balloon takes you up to the dome of the water park, where you can see the splendour of the tropics in the palm of your hand.
- Read more about Tropical Islands
3. AquaPalace Praha (The Czech Republic)
Like a quiet harbour, a ship has anchored in this water park. Or perhaps the Palace of Treasures, a leisure area for kids where you can slide down safe slides, ride waves, and splash around in a warm and shallow paddling pool, attracted sailors.
For adults looking for adrenaline-pumping thrills, World of Adventures is the best place to take a spin on the toboggan run, spiral coaster and Spacebowl ride.
AquaPalace Praha offers the Relax Zone with a swimming pool, hot tub and sauna for a relaxing break. The Aquapalace Hotel Prague, a four-star family-run hotel, is located within the water park and is an excellent option for holidays and accommodation in Prague with children.
4. Serena Water Park (Espoo, Finland)
Serena is Scandinavia's largest water park, with outdoor and indoor pools and rides. There is a very cosy children's entertainment area here— it's reminiscent of a nature corner. There are bunny slides for the little ones, colourful slides for the older ones, a waveform pool, and a waterfall bathing area— the kids have a lot of fun.
For adults, there's a long slide (up to 140 metres), a swim down a mountain river where the calm sections change into turbulent streams, and a Black Hole slide with light and sound effects to enhance the experience.
5. Sandcastle Waterpark (Blackpool, England)
This indoor water park will appeal to those for whom a long slide is a favourite pastime. A 250-metre drop down the Master Blaster and a plunge into the pool: what an adventure! There's also a tropical downpour, a water cannon and the unforgettable Sidewinder ride. Kids can splash around on 'Shimmering Shoals', and teenagers can test their speed on the steamy "Battle Dragons coaster". You can also swim in the tranquil lagoon or enjoy the jacuzzi.
6. Alpamare (Zürich, Switzerland)
Alpamare is best known for its thermal and iodine-enriched water pools. But perhaps more important than that is the variety of water attractions. For instance, riding the "Ice Express" is like sliding down a frozen slide — only you don't feel the cold. It is an extreme ride: 158 metres on a steep curve and a 17-metre drop into the water.
The Balla Balla ride has even made the Guinness Book of World Records. Most of the slides are for thrill-seekers, but for those who prefer a quieter swim or for children, there are low slides and warm water pools. You can also relax in the sauna and tan in the tropical solarium.
7. Park Wodny (Kraków, Poland)
The water entertainment centre resembles a cheerful, brightly decorated kindergarten. Imposing is the children's area called "Pirate Island". Water cannons, dashing but safe slides, a magical volcano, a dragon exhaling water — isn't that a pleasure? And what kind of entertainment — for adults or children — including a rock climbing wall or a "Rainbow Path", where you can walk along the water's surface? It isn't easy, but parents and kids are ready to practice.
In the adult area, you will find a complete set of long and steep slides, the Black Hole with sound and light effects, the Wild River, and for relaxation — hydromassages and saunas.
8. Duinrell (Wassenaar, Netherlands)
The indoor water park is home to the world's only indoor Lazy River. On it, you can enjoy a ride with your kids. Well, those who like to fight against the elements can test their strength on the rides "Cyclone", "Typhoon", "Extreme", "Cannonball", Blits & Flits and others.
The indoor kids water park Playa offer to whizz down the four brand-new slides, step under the mega-waterfall created by the tipping bucket, and have loads of aquatic fun! Children will love Ricky the Frog, the park's mascot, whose figurines are everywhere.
9. Druskininkai Aquapark (Lithuania)
This water park is a place of wonder. A rocky island in the middle of the pool, and palm trees grow out of the water. This waterpark offers many water activities — steep slides, swimming pools and jacuzzis. In the kids' area, you can choose from splashing around in the paddling pool, sliding down the slides, playing games, climbing the rope bridge and doing many other fun activities. The Druskininkai water park also has an excellent complex of saunas with different styles.
10. Tatralandia Aquapark (Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia)
The largest water fun centre in Slovakia, open all year round. The indoor part of the water park, which allows you to enjoy the water fun in winter, is a veritable tropical garden.
The imagination and skilful hands of the designer have created an excellent recreation centre, where even a day will not be enough to visit the water slides, pools and saunas. Copies of typical old African and colonial buildings protrude from the jungle, while a path leads all visitors to a ship that has crashed into a stone cliff.
At Tatralandia, you can see a natural coral reef and its inhabitants— starfish and colourful fish living in a spacious aquarium. The pirate island Karibika with two indoor pools and a Jumbo Castle, awaits children in the water park.
We think a winter visit to one of these waterparks will make you want to return during the summer, as most have excellent outdoor attractions and pools.
As it's the perfect holiday for the whole family, you'll be well advised to dive into the warm sea of entertainment the water parks have to offer. And don't forget to arrange your accommodation well in advance— often, good family hotels close to these parks are booked in advance. Look at our family-friendly hotel collection and see if you can find what you need!
